AIMS AND SCOPE OF THE WORKSHOP==============================Gender differences in computer adoption have been investigated since the'80s. Back then, research described computers as a male world and warnedof a serious digital divide attributed to different attitudes towardsmathematics and to sex-role stereotypes. Nowadays, the gap has decreasedwith respect to selected applications (such as the Internet and e-mail)but women are still severely underrepresented among computer scientists,software developers, and video-games players

As HCI moves towards an experiential vision, the understanding ofgender-related differences assumes greater importance. The metaphor ofcomputers as social actors and the anthropomorphisation of the interface(often embodied by attractive young females) are important triggers ofresearch on gender and interaction. Sexism, sexual harassment and atendency of misreporting sexual identity are well known aspects ofon-line communication which deserve further attention from the designcommunity.

Some of the larger questions we aim to address during the workshop are:

* What is the current status of the digital divide in computer adoptionand usage between male and female users?* How do different interface metaphors (embodied conversationalcharacters, windows, desktops) affect gender related differences?* What is the effect of gender on the perception and usage ofeducational software?* Does gender affect navigational knowledge and strategies (e.g. in VRor Web-browsing)?* Does gender affect the acquisition of sensory-motor tasks in the useof multi-modal interfaces?* Should machines (embodied characters and robots) have gender? Howshould 'artificial' gender be designed and how would it affect theinteraction?* Do sex-role stereotypes apply to embodied characters?* Does gender affect the way human empathize with embodied charactersand robots?

INTENDED AUDIENCE AND WORKSHOP FORMAT=====================================The goal of this workshop is to address the relevance of gender forinteraction design, the sexualisation of embodied conversational agentsand the effect of emotional computing on male and female users. Theworkshop will bring together an interdisciplinary group of researchersand practitioners in interaction design, human-computer interaction,computer mediated communication, intelligent virtual agents, gamedesign, social psychology, and cultural studies. The program willfeature the presentation of refereed papers followed by interactivesessions drawn on a number of design scenarios which will be distributedprior to the workshop. A part of the discussion will concentrate on thedefinition of a roadmap for future research.

SUBMISSIONS AND DISSEMINATION================================

Prospective participants should send a 2/4 position paper toAntonella.de-angeli_at_manchester.ac.uk

following the ACM format. Please e-mail your submission in PDF.

Accepted papers will appear in the workshop proceedings and will beposted on the web. According to the quality of the submissions we willexplore alternatives such as a special journal issue or a bookcollection.

IMPORTANT DATES=============== March : contact co-chair March : Notification of acceptance May 23: Workshop